Automatic switch



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2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

J. L'. McQUARRIE. AUTOMATIC SWITCH. APPLICATION FILED APR-16, 1917.

1,337,784. Patented Apr. 20, 1920.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

//7 Ven for: James L. M-Guarr/e "UNITED sirn'rns PATENT @FYFICF.

JAMES L. McQUARR-IE, OF MON'ICLAIR, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO WESTERN ELECTRIC COMPANY, INCORPORATED, OF NEVJ YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

AUTOMATIC SWITCH.

Application filed April 16,

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JAMES L. BTCQJUARRIE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Montclair, in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Switches, of which the following is a full, clear, concise, and exact description.

This invention relates to switching apparatus for use in automatic or semi-automatic exchange systems, and more particularly to electromagnetically controlled step-'by-step switching devices and is adapted for use either as a selector or a connector.

The principal object of this invention is to provide a switch by which a large number of lines may be accurately and rapidly served.

The principal feature of this invention is the provision of means whereby the brushes of the switch may be made to take three separate directive movements.

Another feature is the provision of means whereby a single magnet operates to move the brushes in all of the three movements.

Another feature is the provision of controlling mechanism whereby the operation of the switch in one position of the controlling mechanism rotates the brushes of the switch, and in another position of the controlling mechanism operates to move the brushes radially. Other objects and features will appear in the following description and claims. 7

Reference is now made to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of the switch; Fig. 2 is a plan view of the switch; Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1; Fig.4 is a section on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3 showing the releasing means of the switch; and Fig. 5 is a detailed showing of the means for holding the shaft in its raised position.

In the embodiment of the invention here in shown, a brush carrier is first moved vertically to a group or level, and is then rotated to pick out a sub-group of lines in the selected group or level, and finally moved outward radially to engage with the desired line in the selected sub-group.

The switch herein disclosed is designed to serve one thousand lines, the terminals of which terminate in contact banks, generally semi-cylindrical in shape. These contact Specifieation of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 20, 1920.

Serial No. 162,329.

banks are divided into levels or groups of one hundred lines each, and each of these levels or groups is divided into sub-groups of ten lines each. In order to avoid needless duplication of parts, and to more clearly illustrate the object of the apparatus claimed, only a portion of the bank of stationary terminals is shown in the drawing. It is to be understood, however, that the stationary terminals are arranged in sets of three each, as shown in Fig. 2, and that there are ten such sets in each sub-group, and ten such subgroups in each level or group.

A set of brushes 2, mounted on an insu lating block 3, cooperates with the terminals. Block 3 is rigidly attached to the brush carriage 6, which is arranged for horizontal movement along rods 4; and 5. A plate 8, to which the rods 4: and 5 are rigidly fastened, is secured by pins 16 and 17 to a notched wheel 18 rotatably mounted on the longitudinally and rotatably mounted shaft 1 1. A spring 10 normally holds the carriage 6 against a stop 11, provided therefor on the plate 8. A projection 17 6 of the carriage normally engages a stop 12, fastened to a toothed sector-shaped member 13, which is rotatably mounted on the shaft 1d. The end of each tooth of the member 13 is bent downwardly for a purpose hereinafter described.- hen the carriage 6 is in normal position, its projection 17 6 holds the member 13 in a position such that the notches of both the wheel 18 and the member are in alinement. lVhen the carriage 6 is moved out of its normal position, the spring 19, one end of which is at tached to the member 13 and the other end to the pin 225 of the wheel 18, rotates the member 13 until it engages the pin 16. In this position the downward projecting teeth of the section 18 are positioned directly over the notches of the wheel 18 for a purpose hereinafter described.

A gear wheel 20, rigidly secured to the upper end-of the shaft 14, meshes with the rack provided on the carriage 6. A collar 21, mounted to move longitudinally with shaft 1 1, has an arm 22 which forms a rest.

to hold a pawl 15 in operative relation with toothed wheel 18. The pawl 15 is mounted on a shaft 23, which is held in the frame 25 by collars 26 and 27. The key 21 prevents the pawl 15 from rotating about the shaft Hid tends to rotate the shaft counter-clockwise,

A spring 101 attached to an L-shaped rod 32, which engages a pin 30 of the disk 28, prevents this rotation of the shaft, as the spring 101 is stronger than the spring 29. An opening 106 is provided in the disk 28, which allows the disk to have a limited rotary movement in a clockwise direction about the shaft 23. A spiral spring 95 surrounding shaft 23, functions to rotate it.

A ratchet wheel is rigidly secured to the bearing 111 of the shaft 14. Flanges 112 and 113 prevent the bearing 111 and the ratchet wheel from moving longitudinally with the. shaft but a key 34 causes the ratchet wheel to be rotated with the shaft. Ratchet wheel 33 is rotated by means of a tooth 122 of pawl 35. The pawl 35 is pivotally attached to the armature 37 of the magnet 36 and is normally held against a stop 38 by a spring 39. This spring tends to move the pawl into engagement with the stop 38. A spindle 120 is rotatably mounted in the frame 25. A holding dog 40,.rigidly attached to the spindle, is normally held out of engagement with the ratchet wheel 33 by a T-shaped arm 41 which engages the proj ections 125 and 126 of the spindle 120. When the arm 41 is moved out of engagement with the projections as hereinafter described, the shaft is rotated by springs 42 to move the dog into engagement with the teeth of the wheel A member 43,

also rigidly mounted on the spindle 120,

normally engages a holding dog 44 (Fig. 5) to keep it out of engagement with vertical ratchet teeth 45 of the shaft 14. A spring 46 functions to keep the pawl 44, when released, in engagement with the teeth 45. A stationary dog 99, secured to a portion of the frame 25, normally engages a groove 100' provided in the shaft 14. This dog 99 functions to hold the shaft in the position to which it has been elevated as soon as; the shaft has been rotated out of its normal position. 7

arm 49, which is mounted on the frame (not shown) is held in operative relation to the pawl 35, and is attached at one end to a bell-crank lever 50. A pawl 52 pivotally mounted at the other end of the lever 50, operates to move the shaft upward. A spring 130 normally holds the bell crank lever against a portion of the frame 25, in which position stop 131 holds the pawl 52 out of engagement with the teeth 45 of the shaft.

Escapement mechanism for controlling the operation of the brushes 2 consists of a ratchet member 53 rigidly secured to a shaft 64. This member 53 is notched on two sides and carries a rod 70. A pair of arms and 66 tend to move together under the influence of spring 67 when the armature 68 is attracted by the magnet 69. This movement of the arms 65 and 66 allows the spring 133 to rotate the member '53 in'a step-by-step manner. It is believed that a more complete description of the escapement mechanism is unnecessary as it is now well known in the art.

Rod 70 to which member 53 is attached, functions to rotate the arms 32, 41 and bell: crank lever 71 in a counter-clockwise direction to control the operation of the switch in amanner hereinafter described. Arm 48 is rigidly secured to the shaft 64, and therefore rotates with it. The armature 37 of the magnet 36 isprovided with an extension 82. This extension is arranged to engage a hook 137 on the bellcrank lever 71 to restore the escapement mechanism to normal, when the magnet 36 attracts its armature in the fourth position of the escapement mechanism. This movement of the escapement mechanism moves the other elements of the switch to their normal positions.

The operation of the above described apparatus is as follows: hen the line relay (not shown) is energized by the calling subscriber taking his receiver off the switchhook, the escapement magnet 69 isenergized, and allows the spring 133 to rotate the member 53 the distance of one tooth. Gne end of the pawl 35 has a beveled surface so that as the arm 48 is rotated the-arm engages this surface of thisbeveled end. The other end of the pawl is raised and the tooth 123 thereof is in a position for engagen ient with notch 51 of the arm 49. hen. the first set of impulses is sent the magnet 36. vibrates its armatures in response to these impulses. This magnet'by means of its armature, pawl 35, arm 49, bell-crank lever 50 and pawl 52, raises the shaft 14 onestep for each impulse transmitted. When member 53 escaped a distance of one tooth, as above described, it movedthe'rod 41 out of engagement-with the dog 40 to allow this-dog 40 to engage the ratchet wheel 33 to prevent rotation ofthe shaft. At the same time, the arm 43 is moved to allow the pawl 44 to engage the vertical ratchet teeth 45 to; hold the shaft in its raised position. Since the shafthas not been rotated the dog 99 is still in the groove 100, and, therefore, does not support the shaft at this time.

After the first series of impulses have been sent, 3 the relay 69 is again energized to rotate the escapement mechanism the dis.- tance of another tooth. The arm 48 in this position has rotated far enough to disengage the beveled end of the pawl 35 to allow this pawl to-be returned to its normal position by spring 39. The pawl 35 is now in a position for tooth122 to engage the ratchet wheel 33. When the next set of impulses is transmitted, the magnet 36 vibrates its armature. Pawl 35 is thereby actuated and, by means of its tooth 122, rotates ratchet wheel 33. r

The gear Wheel 20 rotates with the shaft 14 and tends to move the brush carriage 6 outward, but the force exerted by the spring 10 is sufiicient to prevent this movement of the brush carriage at this time. The notched wheel 18 and the plate 8 secured thereto are rotatably mounted on the shaft 14. The force required to rotate them is less than that required to move the brushes outwardl against the action of the spring 10. Therefore, as the gear wheel 20 is rotated, the brush carriage 6, carrying the brushes 2, plate 8 and the notched wheel 18, is rotated. Pin 17 on wheel 18 engages the edge of sector-shaped member 13 to rotate it.

lVhen the shaft 14 is rotated, the spring 94 attached thereto is wound up and tends to rotate the shaft back to its normal position. This movement is prevented by the holding pawl 40. The shaft is now held in its raised position by both the holding dogs 44 and 99. At the end of the second series of impulses, escape'magnet 69 is again energized and rotates the member 53 another step. In this position of the escapement mechanism, the rod 7 0 has moved sufficiently to draw the arm 32 out of engagement with pin 30, which allows spring 29 to rotate the disk 28 and the shaft 23. The pawl 15 is thereby moved into a notch of the wheel 18 to prevent the wheel and the plate 8 which it carries from rotating when the gear 20 is rotated in response to the next set of impulses. ratchet wheel 33 are so arranged on the shaft 14 that a notch of the wheel 18 is always in a position to be engaged by the pawl 15 after each forward step of the ratchet wheel.

The magnet 36 again vibrates its arma ture in response to the next series of impulses, and rotates the shaft 14 as in response to the second set of impulses. Since the pawl 15 prevents the toothed wheel 18 from rotating, the brush carriage 6 is therefore thrust outwardly against the tension of spring 10. hen the carriage 6 leaves its normal position, the sector-shaped member 13 moves against the pin 16 under the action of spring 19. In this position the downwardly projecting teeth of the member 13 are in a position above the notches of the wheel 1.8, and prevent the pawl 15, which has an upward projection 201, from being moved out of the notch with which it is in engagement.

The operating elements of the switch are restored to their normal positions in the fol lowing manner: Relay 69 is again energized and moves the member 53 the distance of another tooth. The magnet 36 is then ener- The toothed wheel 18 and the gized and attracts its armature 37. I11 this position of the member 53, the arm 78 of the bell-crank lever 71 engages the stationary lug 7 9, which causes extension 137 of arm 71 of the bell-crank lever to be moved into a position to engage the projection 82 of the armature 37. The attraction of the armature causes the member 53 and the other members attached thereto to be returned to their normal positions. Arm 41 in returning to its normal position engages the dog 40 and moves it out of engagement with the ratchet wheel and at the same time causes the arm 43 to force the pawl 44 out of engagement with the vertical ratchet tooth 45. The withdrawal of the pawl 40 allows the shaft 14 to be rotated by its spring 94. This rotation of the shaft first returns the brush carriage 6 back to its normal position against the stop 11. The spring 10 also aids this movement of the carriage. When the carriage 6 engages the projection 12, the sector-shaped member 13 is rotated to its normal position against the stop 176, in which position the pawl 15 is allowed to be moved out of enga ement with the notch in which it is held. The member 32 in moving to its normal position engages pin 30 and rotates the disk 23 back to its normal position. While the pawl 15 is in a notch of the toothed wheel 18, the shaft 23 is prevented from being completely restored. The opening 106 is provided in the disk 28 to allow the restoration of the disk 28 to its normal position independently of the release of the pawl 15 from the slot in which it is held.

In moving back to its normal position the disk 28 places the spiral spring 95 under tension. l Vhen the sector-shaped member 13 is n ,ived by the carriage 6 to its normal position, as above described, this spring 95 rotates the shaft 23 and moves pawl 15 out of the notch with which it was in engagement. When the pawl 15 is withdrawn, the shaft 23 and the pawl 15 which it carries are then rotated back to their normal position by the spring 94. The shaft 14 is held in its raised position by the dog 99 until the shaft has been rotated back to its normal position, which is determined by the dog 99 engaging the side of the key 34. In this position of the shaft, the dog 99 is held in the groove 100 provided therefor in the shaft 14, and thereby allows the shaft to drop down by its own weight to its normal position.

What is claimed is:

1. In an automatic switch, a plurality of sets of contacts, a set of brushes having three selective movements in different directions to engage a set of contacts, and means for operating said set of brushes in each of its movements.

2. In an automatic switch, a plurality of sets of contacts, a set of brushes, and 7a single magnet for imparting to said set of brushes three movements of different characters.

3. In an automatic switch, a. plurality of sets of contacts arranged in groups, each group being divided into subgroups, a set of brushes, means for moving said set of brushes in one direction to select a group, means for moving said set of brushes in another direction to select a sub-group, and means for moving said set of brushes in a third direction to select a desired set of contacts in the selected sub-group.

4;. In an automatic switch, a plurality of sets of contacts arranged in groups, each group being divided into sub-groups, a set of brushes, means for moving said set of brushes vertically to select a group, means for rotating said set of brushes to select a sub-group, and means for moving said set of brushes radially to select a desired set of contacts in the selected subgroup.

5. In an automatic switch, a rotatable shaft, means for rotating said shaft, a set of brushes mounted on said shaft arranged either to be rotated or moved in a radial direction by the rotation of said shaft, and an escapement mechanism for controlling the direction of movement of said set of brushes.

6. In an automatic switch, a frame, a rotatable shaft mounted thereon, means for rotating said shaft, a toothed wheel mounted on said shaft, a set of brushes mounted on said wheel and arranged to be moved radially with respect to the shaft, an escapement mechanism, means under the control of said mechanism for causing said wheel and said brushes to be rotated with said shaft,

I and means under control of said mechanism for holding said wheel stationary and moving said brushes radially.

7. In an automatic switch, a frame, a shaft mounted thereon for longitudinal and rotatable movement, a set of brushes mounted on said shaft, an escapement mechanism having a plurality of positions, a magnet for operating said brushes, means under the control of said mechanism when in one of said positions for causing said magnet to move said shaft and brushes vertically, when in another position to rotate said shaft and brushes and when in another position to move said brushes radially with respect to said shaft.

8. In an automatic switch, a frame, a shaft mounted thereon, a set of brushes mounted on said shaft, an escapement mechanism having three positions, means arranged to move said shaft in one direction when said mechanism is in one of said positions and for moving said shaft in another direction when said mechanism is in the other position, and means for causing said set of brushesto move with said shaft in a third position of said escapement mechanism. I

9. In an automatic switch, a frame, an axially movable shaft rotatably mounted thereon, a magnet for moving said shaft longitudinally and for rotating said shaft, and a set of brushes arranged to be moved in one plane by the longitudinal movement of said shaft and in twordiiferent directions in another plane by the rotation of said shaft.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 11th day 'of April, A. D. 1916.

JAMES L. MOQUARRIE, 

